Chronicle Editor
Thandeka Moyo-Ndlovu
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IN 1957, 23 years before Independence, women in Rhodesia were for the first time given the right to vote during national elections bringing an end to prevalent marginalisation of women in political processes.
Although this applied mainly to the white minority who were then considered more deserving, the hallmark ushered in a new era of women’s participation in politics.
Now, 43 years post-Independence, Zimbabwean women have been slowly embarking in politics despite challenges that come with such decisions.
Statistics from the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission show that there are more than six million registered voters in Zimbabwe with women dominating.
The drive for increased women’s political participation dates back to September 1995 when the fourth world conference on women’s participation convened in Beijing, China with a view to improve gender equality and empower women globally.
Zimbabwe was among the governments undertaking to fulfil these objectives, among them reviewing necessary electoral reforms to encourage women’s electoral participation.
As the country marks 43 years of total independence from colonial rule, there have been calls to make women’s participation in politics a reality for women in this generation.
Women in Leadership Development executive director Ms Samukeliso Khumalo said the biggest obstacle to women’s participation in politics emanates from deeply entrenched gender norms that create an uneven playing field and maintain women’s unequal status in politics.
She said the Government, civil society, the media, academia, the private sector, and communities should be engaged to tackle the aforementioned barriers.
Ms Khumalo added that these institutions should support women leaders and create a conducive environment for women to participate in civic spaces without being coerced, intimidated, or harassed.
“This is because patriarchal gender norms relegate women to household chores and curtail their involvement in decision-making processes. As a result, this affects women’s confidence, interest and capacity to be empowered enough to effectively participate in civic spaces later in life,” said Ms Khumalo.
“Furthermore, there are gender-attacks targeted at women emanating from offline and online media that seek to impeach the credibility of female politicians, sexualise them, and curtail their involvement in politics. Women candidates lack access to campaign financing, which affects their visibility and reaching out to their constituents despite the fact that we are living in an independent Zimbabwe.”
She said her organisation has for the past years mentored at least 75 women in politics and some of those were voted into power.
“Women should be made aware of their political rights in the Constitution and international and regional instruments that promote women’s participation to which Zimbabwe is a signatory, like the Maputo Protocol (2005) and the Southern African Development Community (Sadc) Protocol on Gender and Development (2008), that supports their political participation. For example, the Maputo Protocol and the Sadc Protocol on Gender and Development require a 50 percent representation of women in political leadership; however, no branch of Government or political party has equal gender representation to date.”
Genderlinks Zimbabwe country director Ms Priscilla Maphosa said women’s participation in politics (WPP) is possible in an independent Zimbabwe although a lot of political will is needed to make it feasible.
“Everything should start at political party level and political parties to have deliberate policies that promote WPP and 50/50 gender parity. This should be reflected even in their manifestos and be put into practice and not only on paper,” she said.
“Other strategies to promote WPP include the women’s quota at national level, 30 percent quota at local level which is starting this 2023 election and we hope this will see more women actively participating.
Political parties should allow female candidates to contest and not to ask them to rely on the quota to boost their confidence.”
Ms Maphosa said women should also have access to intensive trainings retention strategies for those in office which will in turn motivate aspiring candidates.
Statistics show that women make up about 52 percent of the total number of registered voters, giving them power to elect as many female candidates as they want to achieve the much-anticipated equal representation.
While some argue that lack of resources is pushing women out of politics, women too have played a role in giving men power at the expense of their own.
Women occupy 26 percent of seats in parliaments regionally, 20 percent in the cabinets and 24 percent in local governments.
South Africa has the highest proportion of women in parliament at 41 percent and the only country with 50 percent of women in the cabinet. Parliamentary representation in other Southern African countries stands at 40 percent for Mozambique, 36 percent in Namibia, 31 percent for Zimbabwe and 30 percent in Angola.
As the country celebrates 43 years of independence this year, women should rise and be counted in every sphere and ensure that WPP becomes that long awaited reality. — @thamamoe
Online Reporter